Annual convention brings bands together

Last weekend members of the National Honor Band Service sorority and fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi, held their annual district convention in the Indiana Memorial Union. \nApproximately 750 students from 25 universities and six states were present. The convention began Friday with presentations and lasted until Sunday morning. Throughout the weekend students attended meetings together and in separate committees. \nThe convention offered a chance for band enthusiasts from around the North Central district to come together and learn how to improve their own organizations. The district includes chapters from universities in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin.\nSophomore Sarah Middaugh, corresponding secretary of Tau Beta Sigma, said during the convention chapters talked about what happened over the past year, planned events for the next year and chose the host for next year's convention. \n"It's a great bonding experience with sisters and brothers who love music," she said.\nAll meetings were held in the IMU except for the banquet, which was held at the Bloomington Convention Center. Those visiting from other campuses also stayed in the hotel on campus at the Union. This contributed to how smoothly the convention ran, Middaugh said.\nPlanning for the convention began four years ago, Tau Beta Sigma President Rob Blatchford, a senior, said. He was pleased to hear positive comments from district as well as national officials about the University and the convention.\n"It went fantastically from the opening gavel to the closing gavel," he said. "It was a great opportunity to showcase our university, our chapters and the Union."\nAlong with the typical convention activities such as meetings and conferences, Blatchford said one of his favorite events was the lip-sync contest, which took place Friday night.\nIU School of Music professor Mary Goetze and University of Wisconsin Superior professor Pat Childress spoke at the convention about women's involvement in music education. \nBlatchford said the two women were fantastic speakers and he was grateful for their dedication to the convention.\nThe convention coordinators were juniors Devon Fegen and Amanda Nigh. The conventions help to unite the chapters and to remember their purpose of service, and the majority of their service projects are geared toward helping the bands, Fegen said.\nThe band sorority and fraternity recruit from the IU bands. They help prepare for the Marching Hundred's about 300 members before, during and after football games by passing out uniforms, providing lunches and building music.\n"Each chapter's goal is to serve the bands," Fegen said.\nThis convention was especially memorable for the graduating seniors who have been a part of IU's bands for several years, she said. \n"It was awesome," Fegen said. "The oldest (members) are graduating and this is something their whole college career has been leading up to"